IMO only, I believe freo to be the sleeper. I dont know about premiership this year But I wouldnt rule them out of top 3-4 clubs. and anything can happen in september as we have seen many times before. But it is still a long way till then.

Can the Tigers translate their form in beating two bottom-four teams into a clash against higher-class opposition? Winning against the Lions and the Kangaroos is one thing - overcoming Fremantle is quite another.

How will Freo handle coming off the bye? It's already caught a few teams out this week and the mental lapse of a week off might be exacerbated by a road trip to Melbourne.

Freo coach Mark Harvey commenting on us and the upcoming game today....

Fremantle sit fourth on the table following a promising start to the season, but will face a stiff test against the Tigers, who have posted wins over North Melbourne and Brisbane in the past fortnight.

Despite Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt booting a league-best 21 goals this season, Harvey was unsure exactly what role the defending Coleman Medallist would be given this week.

"It's interesting when you listen to (Tigers coach) Damien (Hardwick) speak sometimes. It doesn't always necessarily look like he wants him (Riewoldt) down there being the prominent full-forward," Harvey said.

"I guess they grapple with that all the time.

"I'm just saying it's just interesting listening to Damien over the last four or five weeks, depending on whether they win or lose, what he actually says.

"Two weeks ago, they had him running off the wing early in the game like Buddy Franklin, so you make up your own mind."

Luke McPharlin, Antoni Grover or Michael Johnson will get the job on Riewoldt, but Harvey refused to say which one will get first crack.

The Dockers have lost their past seven matches at the MCG, but Harvey is unfazed by that record.

Harvey is ... wary of a Tigers side that is starting to find some rhythm after two consecutive wins.

“They haven’t got a lot of injuries at the moment,” he said. “They’re running into some good form and they shouldn’t be underestimated by anyone that plays them.

“And I think they’re performances, particularly over the last month, they’ve been in and around (and) you’ve got a midfield and you’ve got a kingpin down there that’s adding up to them being a lot better team.

Two seasons of impressive form have changed the perception of the Fremantle Dockers. Now, we expect them to be dogged, not enigmatic; composed, instead of flighty; and we expect them to embrace being favourites, even when they are on the road.

The Dockers have struggled to beat Richmond anywhere of late, and have lost their last seven straight at the MCG. And the Tigers are as buoyant after consecutive wins, the last of which was an impressive effort to withstand a concerted effort from the spirited Lions.

But the reason the Dockers are better regarded nowadays will be the same reason they will win this match - depth of class.

It has taken a while, but now the footy world recognises that Aaron Sandilands, Matthew Pavlich, David Mundy, Stephen Hill, Greg Broughton, Paul Duffield, Nathan Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne represent a high quality core of Fremantle talent. Add to that dedicated role players such as Matthew de Boer, Jay Van Berlo, Ryan Crowley and Kepler Bradley and you have a team that is very hard to beat.

Richmond is also developing an elite core. In Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley, and Dustin Martin the Tigers are gradually assembling an imposing midfield, and the Tigers possess the most exciting key forward talent in the competition in Jack Riewoldt (21 goals). Richmond is a dangerous team if they repeatedly win centre clearances, or are given easy passage from defence. They can score goals in quick succession against the best opposition if not heavily pressured.

With Matthew Pavlich spending much of his time on the ball, Fremantle lacks a tall target with anywhere near Riewoldt's ability. Utility and back-up ruckman Kepler Bradley has been their best tall target up front - small-to-medium sized forwardds Mayne, Ballantyne, McPhee and the midfielders have tipped in the goals.

It is depth of talent that makes the Dockers favourites in this match. The Dockers defence is more stout, with the experience of Michael Johnson and Antoni Grover in key positions supporting the rebounding creativity of Broughton, Duffield, and Roberton. In the secondary midfield rotations, the Dockers can throw in the experienced Garrick Ibbotson, former Rising Star Rhys Palmer and mature aged recruit Nick Lower. For versatility, the Dockers have Ryan Crowley, de Boer and Van Berlo, who can play in defence, in tagging roles or as defensive forwards. The Dockers also look to have more genuine forward options, with Ballantyne, Mayne, McPhee, and Pavlich more genuine targets than their Richmond counterparts.

Richmond have shown great spirit, and better organisation, to win its past two against stragglers the Lions and Kangaroos. They are getting fine service from robust on-baller Dustin Martin (averaging 26 disposals), who appears almost untaggable, and dynamic forward Jack Riewoldt. And importantly for the future of Richmond, some lesser lights are finding ways to contribute more consistently. Derided angry little man Jake King (11 goals, 18 tackles) is revelling in his role as a defensive small forward, and utility Alex Rance has played his best football for the club this year, settled in key roles in defence. Last week he snared 11 marks and had the ball 20 times.

Against stronger, better drilled teams however, Richmond becomes reliant on its stars, not all of whom are as consistent throughout a game as their reputations would suggest.

The primary midfields here are well-matched, and this should be a close match. But apart from its edge in depth, Fremantle has the other trump card in this game. Aaron Sandilands. The biggest of the league's big men will give his on-ballers an armchair ride.

In a 'danger game' for the Dockers, their greater spread of talent, and the Sandilands factor, should tip the game in Fremantle's favour.